Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cartago Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cartago

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 5.1% more expensive than Cartago without rent, and 32.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 6.2% more expensive than Cartago without rent, and 31.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.97 COP 21.9K

$3.70 COP 13.6K

61.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.40 COP 119.0K

$29.64 COP 108.8K

9.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.13 COP 26.2K

$7.40 COP 27.2K

-3.65%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 6,043

$1.56 COP 5,716

5.77%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 COP 3,882

$0.88 COP 3,223

20.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,839

$0.56 COP 2,043

37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 COP 6,418

$1.05 COP 3,856

66.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 COP 11.2K

$2.48 COP 9,122

23.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 4,026

$1.21 COP 4,458

-9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,771

$1.54 COP 5,658

-15.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 COP 4,905

$1.24 COP 4,563

8.06%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,299

$2.48 COP 9,119

-8.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.50 COP 16.5K

$4.16 COP 15.3K

8.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 COP 21.3K

$5.58 COP 20.5K

3.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.96 COP 32.9K

$7.77 COP 28.5K

15.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 COP 8,691

$2.51 COP 9,200

-5.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,939

$0.96 COP 3,530

11.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 COP 5,418

$1.14 COP 4,176

29.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 5,011

$1.28 COP 4,689

6.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,135

$0.88 COP 3,222

28.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,161

$1.09 COP 4,013

3.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,274

$0.71 COP 2,605

25.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 COP 3,114

$0.66 COP 2,419

28.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,361

$2.92 COP 10.7K

-21.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.15 COP 37.3K

$11.34 COP 41.6K

-10.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,359

$1.07 COP 3,918

11.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 COP 8,828

$1.93 COP 7,071

24.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 3,074

$0.73 COP 2,674

15.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.85 COP 150.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 COP 5,417

$1.56 COP 5,711

-5.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 COP 6,949

$1.96 COP 7,207

-3.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.05 COP 29.5K

$9.75 COP 35.8K

-17.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,455

$0.98 COP 3,601

-4.08%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.7K COP 65.1M

$21.8K COP 79.9M

-18.51%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K COP 96.8M

$30.5K COP 111.8M

-13.46%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.9 COP 300.7K

$82.4 COP 302.5K

-0.61%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.54 COP 35.0K

$8.61 COP 31.6K

10.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.68 COP 87.0K

$24.37 COP 89.5K

-2.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.85 COP 94.9K

$23.80 COP 87.4K

8.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.72 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.05 COP 14.9K

$4.96 COP 18.2K

-18.35%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 1.2M

$224 COP 822.1K

41.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,971 COP 21.9M

$5,889 COP 21.6M

1.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.0 COP 216.4K

$64.7 COP 237.6K

-8.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.49 COP 119.3K

$44.74 COP 164.3K

-27.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 366.7K

$78.0 COP 286.3K

28.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 394.9K

$91.8 COP 336.9K

17.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 COP 1.8M

$281 COP 1.0M

74.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.4M

$234 COP 860.7K

58.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$821 COP 3.0M

$537 COP 2.0M

53.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$731 COP 2.7M

$422 COP 1.5M

73.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,019 COP 11.1M

$1,578 COP 5.8M

91.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,332 COP 4.9M

$1,033 COP 3.8M

28.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$517 COP 1.9M

$307 COP 1.1M

68.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.58

15.98%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: January 12, 2026

Last update for Cartago: January 11, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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